This and That

Several months ago, I was complaining about using the Kcups for coffee because I drink two cups each morning and the cups just end up in the landfill.  Teresa said she and Ricky use the attachment cup and ground coffee, avoiding the plastic trash.  I'd forgotten about that attachment cup that came with the Keurig, but didn't like it because 1) I had to take the holder out to put the attachment cup in, and 2) the grounds ended up in my morning coffee.  Even with the filters I bought, I was still not really pleased.

So...a little purple cup caught my eye in the grocery store, and it turned out to be the perfect solution.  It fits right into the holder without having to remove anything, and with the filters, I get a delicious cup of coffee each time.  :)  It may be a small effort, but 2 fewer Kcups a day beginning in November counts as something.

Incoming Mail

Outgoing

These went out last week.

I've been trying to write better letters to the grands.  It is sometimes always hard to find things to say to a fifteen-year-old and two twelve-year-olds.  Different generations, experiences, and interests make me spend more time trying to find something to write about than actually putting pen to page.

My latest attempt are showing some change.  I'm trying to write the letters in the form of a common place book--a kind of illustrated letter with lists, quotes, cartoons, a kind of catch-all of what I'm reading and thinking about, if there is a way to connect it to the kids.

In a letter to Max, I thought his interest in comics/graphic novels would make him appreciate The Umbrella Academy on Netflix, but then realized he would probably be ahead of me on that.  So I paused, how could I expand; maybe he would be interested in The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay because Chabon's book was based in part on the lives of the early writers of comics in the 1930-40's.  It was a way in.  I could talk about what I liked about the Netflix series (Five!, and Klaus and Hazel) and about  Chabon's book.  Better communication.  

Comic books to me are fairy tales for grown-ups. – Stan Lee

No more how is school, how's the tennis, how are Leo and Teddy.  Not just a few comments about what's going on here (never much that would interest him).  

Mila's interests in robotics and coding will require a little more research, but there are always questions about AI and ethics that I have and can find more on, and her interest in the environment is something I'm concerns me as well, and I do plenty of  reading about and can include articles or quotes about.  

Benefits of Robotics  and other links that I'll be looking into.

Bryce Eleanor's love of animals and especially cats means that I'm always looking for cat quotes, and as I included a quote by Nan Porter ("If cats could talk, they wouldn't"), I wondered if Edgrr could talk what he'd say.  And Bryce Eleanor's cats Lily Pad and Prim Paws would certainly have the dogs to complain about.  Then I thought of James Herriot's A Creatures Great and Small and knew she would love it.  The Herriot books remain some of my all-time favorites.

None of the letters are in typical letter format.  They have that loose and unrestricted feel of a common place book.  They were fun to write because they almost like little thought clouds rather than any kind of straight forward narrative, with little drawings and doodled boxes.
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March is on the way!  I need to quit procrastinating about the garden.